California real estate transfer tax
California's transfer tax is 0.11%, customarily seller-paid. Here's how it works, what it costs at common price points, and the statute behind it.
Estimated — not yet source-verified.Estimated — not yet source-verified. This figure is a knowledge estimate we have not yet confirmed against the official source, so this page is not indexed. Treat it as a rough guide only and verify with the state revenue department or county recorder.
California's base Documentary Transfer Tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500). Many cities add their own transfer tax on top — San Francisco's runs up to 6% on the highest-value sales, and Los Angeles' Measure ULA adds 4–5.5% on sales above ~$5M. By custom the seller pays, though it is negotiable.
How California compares nationally
0.11%, #28 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $200 below the median $640 tax at $400,000. This is a data-derived comparison against the 51 source-verified state and DC transfer-tax records, with no invented rates for null-tax states.
- Rate rank
- #28 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Tax at $400,000
- $440
- median-state tax $640
- Dataset date
- June 2026
- source-linked record
California transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, review date not provided.
What it costs at common prices
| Sale price | State transfer tax |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $220 |
| $400,000 | $440 |
| $600,000 | $660 |
| $800,000 | $880 |
State-level only; county and city taxes may add to these figures.
Recent California rule changes
Selected from the source-cited rule-change dataset by this state slug.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the real estate transfer tax in California?
California's transfer tax is 0.11% of the sale price, customarily seller-paid. California's base Documentary Transfer Tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500). Many cities add their own transfer tax on top — San Francisco's runs up to 6% on the highest-value sales, and Los Angeles' Measure ULA adds 4–5.5% on sales above ~$5M. By custom the seller pays, though it is negotiable.
Who pays the transfer tax in California?
In California the transfer tax is customarily seller-paid, though it's negotiable in the purchase contract.
How is California's transfer tax calculated?
Multiply the sale price by 0.11%. For example, on a $400,000 home that's about $440. California's base Documentary Transfer Tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500). Many cities add their own transfer tax on top — San Francisco's runs up to 6% on the highest-value sales, and Los Angeles' Measure ULA adds 4–5.5% on sales above ~$5M. By custom the seller pays, though it is negotiable.
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
These links are selected by nearby verified transfer-tax rates, not by a static related list.